Participation of Women in Conflict Resolution: Case of Turkana County in Kenya; 1990 to 2015

Abstract

Women have been socialized for peace building at the informal level where their role as peace builders is being recognized, most of their activities took place through grassroots organizations due to their lack of access to formal participation since they still lack support. This marginalization hinders efforts to build sustainable peace and achieving stability for communities in the country. The study focused on women from Nawuiyapong in West Pokot and Turkana Lorengippi in Turkana County communities on the migration corridor in North West part of Kenya. The objectives of this study were to: assess the contribution of the women in conflict resolution in Turkana County, examine the strategies women used in peace building initiatives and identify the various ways to curb the challenges faced by women in peace building in Turkana County. The study utilized the Feminist Standpoint theory. The study employed qualitative research technique. Under qualitative, explanatory technique and descriptive survey research was used. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire and interview schedules. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the study sample. The target population included 122 people of various levels. The analysis of data was using basic descriptive narrative. The data collected was analyzed and processed using various statistical tools like the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to generate descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages as well as inferential statistics such as one sample t-test and linear regression to test for the relationship between the dependent and independent variables at 95% confidence level. Thematic analysis was however used to analyse the gathered qualitative data. The study established that women in Turkana County contributed to conflict resolution through numerous ways like educating for peace at the grassroots as well as lobbying and advocacy for the equitable distribution of resources. The study also showed that women had specific strategies like mobilization, lobbying and gender sensitization for engaging in peace-building within the County. However, it also showed that there were largely excluded from peace and security processes in Kenya and the world at large despite their efforts in preserving social order. The study lastly established that women in Turkana County used numerous ways to curb the challenges they faced. The study concludes that even though women contribute to conflict resolution, this contribution is however dismal. It is therefore, the recommendations of this study that the government and other stakeholders find ways of helping women from Turkana County in their efforts to engage in peace-building initiatives.